Wealthy people in England were booking private jets to escape the lockdown set to be introduced on Thursday, according to jet brokers¹.

 

根据飞机经纪公司的消息，英格兰的富人们纷纷预定私人飞机以逃离本周四开始实行的封锁。

 

Air Partner, one of the biggest aircraft charter firms, said there had been a "sharp rise" in private jet bookings "out of the country before Thursday", as people look to avoid the lockdown and instead spend the time overseas.

 

The company, which supplies planes to Premier² League footballers, celebrities³, the royal family and six out of the eight governments in the G8, said it had been overwhelmed with enquiries from wealthy people seeking to escape the UK for second homes overseas.

 

"Many of these flight enquiries are for individuals wishing to go to their second homes in Europe, with the Canary Islands, which are still warm at this time of year, being the most sought-after destination," the company said in a statement. "We do expect to continue to see some demand for private jet flights during the rest of the month for business travel, particularly as many commercial flights become grounded and unavailable."

 

The new lockdown in England, which has come into force on Thursday, will ban residents in England from travelling abroad except for essential work until at least 2 December.

 

Commercial airlines have dramatically reduced their flight schedules in anticipation⁴ of an even greater fall in demand for international travel, which has been moribund⁵ since the pandemic began.

 

However, private jet operators have reported a much smaller decline in bookings. The operators say this is because the richest of the rich have continued to travel as much as before. In addition, more moderately wealthy people are seeking out private jets as they view it as a safer way to travel during the pandemic because it avoids potentially crowded commercial planes and airport terminals.

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